CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–September 21, 2010.  The Illinois Department of Insurance is reminding Illinois families and employers that significant new health insurance benefits and protections become effective September 23, 2010.  The changes—a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Act”) signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010—will improve the[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–September 21, 2010.  Yesterday,  the American College of Physicians (ACP) and AARP launched an online guide to help inform consumers about the health care law.  The guide is written and organized in a way that clearly explains what the law has changed, why these changes were made and when the[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–September 3, 2010.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan today highlighted the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge to enroll five million children in Medicaid and CHIP within five years. Since Sebelius announced the Challenge last February, the Centers[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–August 16, 2010.  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced grant awards of $46 million to 45 States and the District of Columbia. These Affordable Care Act grants will be used to help improve the oversight of proposed health insurance premium increases, take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes,[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–August 7,  2010. Forty-five years ago, we made a solemn compact as a nation that senior citizens would not go without the health care they need.  This is the promise we made when Medicare was born.  And it’s the responsibility of each generation to keep that promise. That’s why[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–July 30, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed an executive order to create the Illinois Health Care Reform Implementation Council. The council will help the state implement the health care reforms contained in the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). “Making sure that everyone in Illinois has access to quality, affordable[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–July 29, 2010.  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two key steps in the process of partnering with states and other stakeholders to begin establishing health insurance Exchanges.  HHS announced the availability of up to $1 million in grants per state to help states begin work[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–July 22, 2010.  Today, the Obama Administration is announcing both new regulations to empower consumers to appeal decisions made by their health plans or insurance companies and the availability of resources that will be used to help give consumers more control of their health care decisions.  These provisions of the[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–July 15, 2010.  Yesterday, the Department of Insurance announced a website for consumers to learn more about the Illinois Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (IPXP).  The website, http://insurance.illinois.gov/IPXP, is an on-line forum for information about the federally-funded IPXP and includes frequently asked questions covering issues such as program eligibility, enrollment, funding,[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–July 12, 2010.  The Illinois Department of Insurance announced today that it has applied for a federal grant to support the Department’s efforts to enhance the collection, public disclosure, and analysis of health insurer premium increases in Illinois.  If, as hoped, the Department’s application is approved by the U.S. Department[Read More…]